Apparatus for electroplating



w. J. HARPER ETAL 3,158,249

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING Nov. 24, 1964 19 Sheets-Sheet 1 OriginalFiled June 15, 1959 INVENTORS W. J. Harper D. S.'Ackermon 8 M. FeldmonBY w fl ATM Nov. 24, 1964 w. J. HARPER ETAL APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING19 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 15, 1959 "IIIIIII'IIII l l/l/ I III INVENTORS W. J. Harper Ackerman a ll lIll TTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1964 w. J.HARPER ETAL APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING 19 Sheets-Sheet 5 OriginalFiled June 15. 1959 INVENTOR W. J. Harper D. S. Ackermon a M. Feldmunflw Nov. 24, 1964 w. J. HARPER ETAL APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING 19Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed June 15, 1959 8 mmm m mmmm e e M WM 8 w ml D.

m) e G u F m Nov. 24-, 1964. J, HARPER 3,1583%9 APPARATUS FOREEECTROELAJEING Original Filed June 15-, 1959 19 Sheec's-Sheet 5INVENTOR W. J. Harper D. S. Ackermon 8 M. Feldman ATTORNEY Nov, 24,19-64 J: HARPER E AL APPARATUS FOR. EmcmoPLAnNG:

Original Filed June 15, 1959 19 Sheets-Sheet 6 Feldman INVENTOR J.Harper D. S. Ackermon 8 Nov. 24, 1964 w. J. HARPER ETAL 3,158,249

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING Original Filed June 15. 1959 19Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG.I2.

INVENTORS J; Harper D. S. Ackermon a M. Feldmcm ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1964w. J. HARPER ETAL 3,158,249

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING Original Filed June 15, 1959 19Sheets-Sheet 8 la,"ul.

FIG.|4. FIG.I5.

INVENTOR J. Harper D. S Ackermun 8 M. Feldmun ATTORNEY Nov. 24, 1964 w.J. HARPER ETAL APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING 19 Sheets-Sheet 9 OriginalFiled June 15, 1959 W.- J D. S.-Ackermcm 8 BY mikwm W. J. HARPER ETALAPPARATUS FOR EILECTROPLATING Nov. 24, 1964 Original Filed June 15, 195919 Sheets-Sheet l0 m m m M J. Harper Ackermon 8 I M. Feldmun uukzmmwa m19 Sheets-Sheet ll s a 5 mwn n la o n E M 0 w um w LGWA AM W Nov. 24,1964 w. J. HARPER ETAL APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING Original Filed June15, 1959 LU W nnJ

Nov. 24, 1964 w. J. HARPER ETAL APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING 9Sfieets-Sheet 12 Original Filed June 15, 1959 FlG,2.

ATJORNEYS Nov. 24, 1964 w. J HARPER ETAL 3,153,249

' APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING Original Filed June 15, 1959 19Sheets-Sheet 13 E u 8 a g INVENTORS W. J. Harper D. S. Ackermon&

- BY L LBW,W*TM

M. Feldman Nov. 24, 1964 W. J. HARPER ETAL APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATINGOriginal Filed June 15, 1959 B BY PASS OYLLNDEZRS 19 Sheets-Sheet 1'5 gBass LL 1 'r shin. FOR- BY PASS T l ENER FOR BY was lIBY PASS BY PASSENERJQR,

BY PASS i f T ENER. F-OR BY PASS T ENERF m! magi 'r ENER.FOR

BY PASS i A v LEGEND FIG.29.

FIG.30.

D. S. Ackermon 8 INVENTORS W. J. Harper M. Feldmon Nov. 24, 1964 J.HARPER ETAL APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING Original Filed June 15, 1959 19Sheets-Sheet 16 FIG.

r i 1 PUMP vaanosc. MONORAIL STARTER STARTER STARTER i n M 2 M3 J TI 12T3 VERT. osc MONORAIL MOTOR MOTOR PUMP START PUMP STOP I fzol 2e PUMP ou I .2 PUMP (Aux) 28 y 202 1 ll V.ERT.OSC.

ERT. osc. s v

A/O MONO. LR MONORAIL 1 MONWML WOR'SIIDN 3! u \IL ,2

OFF on H H "0:40.10 STOP Ik J 4 1 @JC 32 none. 35 g hnouomwn MoN.s'ro$LsNC 5 34 unk 208 Am MONO.LR

ll f 2 ll X 1 WORK: }u on m LR 2 AUTO CONTROUA/G) RES? CR oven-422m A 2PuMPuwx) CYCLE STOP 2 Au'ro oumoum) I HAND AUTO 40 41 n 2 1-rl 0 c T c cU 38 39 A/O 2'6 AUTOMATIC 200 a: 9

I i i 42 61, 4a YE 44 2 IR "s w TIMER LR ii 43 [2'7 A/C TRAV.RET.GR DUMPSOL ll 45 u 43 2 II I? WORK ON OR 2l3 '"ME'ELQ'i 12 5 ll 46 F LP! 2 H iMONORAIL 223 OFF /oN I 4 IMMERSION TIMER MONO. STOPLS MONO.LR TIMER LR 2f TNVENTORS W. J. Harper D. S. Ackerman 8 M. Feldmun Nov. 24, 1964 w. J.HARPER ETAL APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING Original Filed June 15, 1959 19Sheets-Sheet l8 TIMER LR WORK UP OR IF II 2 Am ELEvAToR THAI/.RETURN 6RWORK UP soL. 5 ON. UP 52 A/ A P c K Dow L. F204 53 TR v PW? STO R 54 WORN 50 2 Am TIIIIE R LR WORK ON DR 206 l l I L 53 I l l 55 I I I TIM LRTRAvRE' 14 mm. I wD STOP 207 II IX M: TRAVERSE 56 WORK UP cR TRAv.FWDISOL I m 51 Rg FWD as I. I 2

I} l I Y z 203 WORK ON on TRAv. REv. soL

59 60 4 Hi Q A/G 6| TIMER LR TRAv. RETURN DR 2|8 I H \u 59 II II lk llWORK UP cR DELAY sET DOWN TIMER WORK UP 0R l 62 l- 2 u IR I I 2|4- IWORK uP cR DELAY sET DOWN WORK UP soL 62 I I 64 A l l V 62 won up 6RDELAY sET DNJ'IMER 226] \I It 65 7* I ER LR 22s I T DELAY SET DIIWDRK UPsoL E Ale 0 5 t? :y '2 WORK UP DR TRAV. FWD STOP cR TRA LR 62 IL 68 \uW222 2 II I\ U TRAv. FWD STOP cR TRAV.LR TIMER LR I: II REsET cR TRAv.RETURN CR 72 II A II \R/ REsET OR I ll FIG 34 INVENTORS W. J. Harper D.S. Ackermon 8 M. Feldmon ATTORNEY 5 Nov. 24, 1964 w. J. HARPER ETALAPPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING 19 Sheets-Sheet 19 Original Filed June 15,1959 L L R O R R S M w L L L L L L O 0 0 0 O G 6 0V R M 0 GA WOA A WOAOAV G W 6 C O O 0 O c 0 G I 2 I I 2 3 R C E RII W T w R R R R c L L L PO|| l| l| ll 0 O Ki... 6 6 G R l 2 3 W W 3 3 3 3 FIG.35.

LEGEND FIG.33. FIG. 32.

FIG. 35. F|G.34.

WHCC= WORK HOLDER CONTROL CYCLE =WHCC 5Y8" M n muflm mdmd VHYM m.MF 0w.AM. S D YY AA .LL EF- RR m m m TWE NT W. mm. s m mm s BY Q b0 IATTORNEYS LIMIT SWITCH United States Patent 3,158,249 AFFARATUS FGRELECTRGPLATING Willard 3. Harper, Colts Neck, David Ackerinan,

Linden, Merrill Feldman, Cherry Hill, NJZ,

assignors to Hanson-Van Winlrie-Munning Company,

Matawan, Ni, a corp-oration of New .lersey Continuation of applicationSer. No. 829,235, June 15,

@559. This application July 25, 1962, Ser. No. 214,785

23 Claims. (Ci. res-rs The present invention relates to apparatus forelectroplating and is a continuation of our similarly entitledapplication, Serial No. 820,235, filed June 15, 1959, and has for anobject a flexible and versatile machine for performing electroplating orother treatments by a compact processing conveyor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for conveyingwork to multiple treatment stations with quickly interchangeable cyclesat low maintenance cost.

A further object of the invention resides in providing an apparatus fortreatments of articles and materials which involves hydraulic or otheroperation.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing anapparatus for treatments or" articles and materials in which the widthand length of the machine is substantially reduced, the entire machineis made of permissible lighter materials and in which the machine islower and generally more compact.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of operationof the work carrying members whereby to lift and lower the same out ofand into the treatment stations which involves the use of asubstantially vertically moving elevator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism ofsimplified mechanical form for operation at an accelerated rate of speedand which will accordingly have an increased capacity.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus inwhich the work during its movement up and down out of and into thetreatment stations will be carried in a substantially true vertical orright line whereby the work may remain a constant distance from theanode, whereby the plate or etch is uniform in depth, and because thework goes straight down into the treatment tank and comes out straight,the tanks may be made narrower and the overall width of tr e machinereduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter described in which the downward movement of the elevatorraises the work carrying arms while upward motion of the elevatorpermits a downward motion or" the work carrying arms, the elevatorhaving a certain overtravel to actuate shifters at transfer points.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus having anovel form of horizontal forward movement resulting in shorter tanks, ashorter overall length of the machine and enables a simple slidingmechanism to advance all of the carriers at each operation through apredetermined spacing, for example of the order of twenty-four inches.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automaticload-unload mechanism coupled to the apparatus for transferring work toand from a supply system.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the kinddescribed having a simple form of oscillating device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a completely automaticand automated apparatus in which selective means is employed forchanging pattern cycles to increase the flexibility of the machine toany type or cycle pattern desired.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be morefully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed outin the claims appended hereto.

In thedrawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or correspondingparts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a transverse vertical section taken through a machineconstructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the workcarrying arms raised in solid line position and lowered in the dottedline position.

FEGURE 2 is a top plan schematic layout of one side of the machineconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational View with parts broken away and partsshown in section of a Work carrier arm employed in the machine of thepresent invention, taken at a magnified scale.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section taken through a normally open gateemployed with the present invention.

FIGURE 5 is a View similar to FIGURE 4 taken through a normally closedgate.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of an upper portion of themachine of the present invention, showing the elevator in the raisedposition and the work carrying arms in the lowered position.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 with the elevator in the loweredposition and the Work carrying arms in the elevated position.

FIGURE 8 is a transverse section taken through the machine static frameshowing the hydraulic form of work carrying arm latching device.

FiGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8, showing a manual work carryingarm latching device.

FEGURE 9A is a view similar to FIGURE 9, showing a fixed elevated railcarried by the machine static frame for retaining the work carrying armsin elevated position.

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view with parts broke away and partsshown in section of the machine of the present invention, its loader andmonorail feed, showing various positions of the transfer of work fromthe monorail to the machine and vice versa.

FIGURE 11 is a section taken on the FlGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of the machine static frame andelevator with the elevator in the raised position.

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FlGURE 12 with the elevator in thelowered position.

FEGURE 14 is a transverse section of the static frame taken on the linelid-14 in FIGURE 13 with the elevator in the lowered position.

FIGURE 15 is a view similar to FIGURE 14 with the elevator in theelevated position.

FZGURE 16 is a fragmentary side elevational View taken in an enlargedscale of the elevator and static frame of FlGURE 13, showing theelevator actuating mechanism.

FIGURE 17. is a perspective view of a carriage employed in connectionwith the present invention.

FIGURE 18 is an underneath perspective view taken at an enlarged scaleof a work carrying arm carriage mounted on the static frame.

FIGURE 19 is a top plan view taken at a magnified scale of thehorizontal traverse mechanism.

FIGURE 20 is a side elevational view of FIGURE 19.

FIGURE 21 is a fragmentary top plan view taken at an enlarged scale ofthe traverse mechanism pawl construction.

FIGURE 22 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of a machineconstructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the workarm oscillating mechanism.

line 11-ll in

1. FOR USE WITH A MACHINE HAVING TREATMENT STATIONS, (A) A HORIZONTALCONVEYOR AND ELEVATING MEANS, (B) A WORK CARRIER AND RIGHT LINE LIFTMECHANISM COMPRISING A CARRIAGE ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO AND DRIVEN BYSAID HORIZONTAL CONVEYOR, (C) A WORK CARRYING SIDE ARM PIVOTED PROXIMATEITS INNER END TO SAID CARRIAGE AND HAVING ITS OUTER END MOVABLE TOWARDAND AWAY FROM SAID TREATMENT STATION, (D) SAID WORK CARRYING ARM HAVINGA PORTION PROXIMATE ITS PIVOTED INNER END POSITIONED TO BE ENGAGED BYSAID ELEVATING MEANS, (E) WORK HANGER MEANS CONNECTED TO THE OUTER ENDOF SAID ARM, AND